This Article is From Jun 23, 2014

South Korea Captures Soldier Accused of Killing Five

South Korea Captures Soldier Accused of Killing Five

South Korean army soldiers run during an arrest operation in Goseong, South Korea, Monday, June 23, 2014.

Seoul: A South Korean soldier who fled after allegedly killing five colleagues was captured on Monday following an unsuccessful suicide attempt, the Defence Ministry said.

The 22-year-old sergeant surnamed Yim shot himself on the side of his abdomen but failed to kill himself. Yim was being taken to a nearby hospital, said a ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing department rules. He gave no further details.

There has been massive manhunt for Yim since authorities said he killed five and wounded seven on Saturday night before fleeing his frontline unit with his standard issue K2 assault rifle.

He also fired on Sunday on the troops chasing him, injuring a platoon leader. On Monday, officials said a South Korean soldier was wounded by suspected friendly fire.

Earlier, troops surrounded him so closely on Monday in the forest that they could toss him a mobile phone to talk to his father as well as bread and bottled water. His parents were also brought to the area to try to persuade him to turn himself in.

It wasn't clear what triggered the rampage, and there was no indication that South Korea's bitter rival, North Korea, was involved.

Yim was scheduled to complete his nearly two years of mandatory military service in September, according to defence officials.

Initial personality tests in April of last year put Yim within a group of soldiers who need special attention and are unfit for frontline duty, according to the Defence Ministry. But tests last November concluded he had improved and could serve in the frontline area, defence officials said.
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